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One for the Future: Maggie Alphonsi, 20, rugby union player

Few athletes succeed in their chosen sport after starting at the age of 14. Not many are fast-tracked through the various England teams because they are bigger and stronger than their peers. And even fewer become first-team regulars for club and country by the age of 19.

Yet, as Maggie Alphonsi has proved, if you are good enough, you are old enough. Alphonsi, now 20, from north London, started playing rugby in secondary school, much to the surprise of her Nigerian family. But considering her immense talent, they were quickly supportive.

Thanks to her PE teacher, former Wales captain Lisa Burgess, who noticed her potential, Alphonsi joined Saracens women and captained the Great Britain under-16 touch rugby team to Australia, before attending the England academy, where she was selected for the England A team.

She commutes from Bedford to London for training every Tuesday and Thursday, and the hard work